Northern Maine Stewardship Field Assistant

Millinocket, Maine, USA

#LI-REMOTE
ME503

The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

The Northern Maine Stewardship Field Assistant contributes to a wide variety of land and recreation management tasks based in the Katahdin Region of north-central Maine. Travel will be required, predominantly in the Katahdin Region, through trips further afield may be required on an as-needed basis. While focused primarily on recreation management tasks around the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area and Trout Mountain Preserve, the Northern Maine Stewardship Field Assistant also contributes to ecological monitoring and management efforts such as EcoReserve monitoring, invasive species management, and special projects, such as endangered species management, assisting with partner research projects, participating in prescribed burn activities, or contributing to restoration projects on TNC lands. The Field Assistant will contribute to the maintenance of human use infrastructure, including foot trails, kiosks and wayfinding, boundary marking, and will at times interact with the public to furnish information or coordinate with stakeholders. Maintaining cooperative relationships with conservation partners is crucial to the effectiveness and longevity of our work.

This is a full-time, 12-week, temporary position that begins in June 2023 and ends in August 2023 (flexible timing; we are willing to work with the right candidate to consider alternative timelines). The Assistant may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. This position requires physical exertion and/or muscular strain, long hours in isolated settings, and presents frequent possibility of injury. This is a remote position, based in the Conservancy’s Millinocket, Maine office (flexible) with frequent travel to other northern Maine preserves. Remote, off-grid housing is available.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

• Conducts inventories and surveys of campsites and other recreational infrastructure on regular basis
• Works independently and/or with stewardship staff and volunteers to perform preserve maintenance tasks (maintaining signs, building and maintaining trails, marking boundaries, controlling invasive species).
• Interacts with preserve visitors by providing information about the preserves, promoting the work of the Conservancy, answering questions, and enforcing preserve policies.
• Conducts legal compliance monitoring and drafts compliance reports; enters monitoring data; works with Northern Maine Land Manager to notify parties in the event of a violation.
• Researches and acquires ecological and legal information and field collects natural resource information pertinent to the management of Maine Chapter preserves and conservation easements and assists with updating preserve management plans.
• Deals with problems as they arise on preserves (may include timber and other forms of trespass, unauthorized vehicular use, camping, etc.).
• Assists stewardship staff with ecological monitoring throughout the state.
• Assists with maintenance of basic equipment such as hand and power tools, chainsaws, outboard boat motors, etc.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. Requires considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain.
• Participates, when available and as certified, as crew member on controlled burns in Maine.
• Assists with special projects as needed.

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We need your curiosity, ecological expertise, and passion for land management to join our land stewardship team as we care for special lands across the state and work to protect biodiversity, manage for climate resilience, and maintain human access infrastructure. Come join TNC and apply today!

• High school diploma or GED and 1 year’s training in science-related field or related experience in land management.
• Experience recognizing plant and animal species.
• Experience with a GPS unit- to find and mark field locations and with navigating roads in remote locations. Experience reading and interpreting road and topographic maps, aerial photos, and other sources of mapped information.
• Experience working in a team environment.
• Experience performing physical work.
• Valid driver’s license.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Below are other helpful attributes but if you think you would rock this job without any of the listed desired qualifications, we want to hear from you!

• Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.
• Experience in land management.
• Ability to perform physical work, sometimes under adverse conditions.
• Ability to hike over rough terrain for extended periods of time, lift and carry up to 40 pounds, and be willing to work outdoors sometimes in foul weather; ability to navigate in the field.
• Willingness to travel throughout Maine over extensive periods of time, work weekends and occasional evenings.
• Experience operating and maintaining power tools, chainsaws, and brushsaws safely.
• Ability to communicates effectively in person and in writing with a wide variety of people, including preserve neighbors, private landowners, partners, and volunteers.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, GIS, and Access.
• First Aid and/or CPR certified or willingness to obtain.
• Experience operating a small skiff with a small outboard motor on lakes and in near-shore ocean settings.
• Knowledge and familiarity with Maine geography, natural history, environmental science.

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughout the world!

In Maine, we own and manage more than 70 fee properties comprising more than 300,000 acres in all corners of the state for climate resilience and biodiversity and hold more than 70 conservations easements and deed restrictions on other lands.

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan to include employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this job.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Salary: $19.50/hour for between 35-40 hours/week

To apply for job ID 52792, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ by 11:59 PM EST on February 25th, 2023. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Where legally permissible, TNC requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated and willing to keep up to date with vaccines that protect against COVID-19. By accepting an offer of employment, you agree to comply with this requirement, unless you are entitled to a legally mandated exemption.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting for some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.